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Foot support for alleviating knee pain

Foot support for alleviating knee pain description/claims

Knee pain is a common problem having various causes, including arthritis and sports injuries. When knee pain sufferers are standing, walking, or running, the pain is typically heightened, as increased forces are transmitted through the knees. While known footwear and known shoe inserts can limit shock on the knees, additional knee pain relief may be sought.

FIG. 1 depicts a bottom view of an example foot support, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the example foot support, according to the example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example foot support, according to the example embodiment of the present invention, along line A-A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example foot support, according to the example embodiment of the present invention, along line B-B of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 depicts a bottom view of the example foot support with the bones of a wearer's foot superimposed thereon.

FIG. 6 depicts an isometric top perspective view of the example foot support, according to the example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a medial side view of the example foot support, according to the example embodiment of the present invention.

Some example embodiments of the present invention have been shown to be particularly effective in alleviating knee pain when compared to other foot supports, such as many commonly available shoe inserts. A particularly effective configuration has been found to be a pre-manufactured shoe insert including a depression beneath the “big toe,” i.e. beneath the first proximal phalange, in conjunction with a medial post of approximately 4.5°.

According to some example embodiments of the present invention, some example foot supports may be full-length pre-manufactured shoe inserts having a compressible foam body having a forefoot region configured to underly the metatarsal heads and proximal phalanges of a wearer's foot, where the forefoot region has a toe-lowering section that underlies at least one of a first proximal phalange and a first metatarsal head of the wearer's foot. In some examples, the body may have a heel region underlying the heel of the wearer's foot that has a medial post. In some examples, the body has a midfoot region between the forefoot region and the heel region and having a raised portion underlying the medial arch of the wearer's foot configured to support the medial arch of the wearer's foot. Some examples may have a support member underlying and coupled to the heel region and at least part of the midfoot region of the body. In some examples, the support member has greater stiffness than the body. In some examples, the support body has an aperture underlying the heel region of the body. In some examples, the body extends into the aperture.

Some example foot supports, according to some example embodiments of the present invention, may have a body having a forefoot region that underlies the metatarsal heads and proximal phalanges of a wearer's foot, a raised arch support that underlies and provides support to the medial arch of the wearer's foot, and a toe-lowering section in the forefoot region that underlies at least the first proximal phalange but less than all of the proximal phalanges of the wearer's foot. Some examples have a toe-lowering section that underlies at least the first proximal phalange but less than all of the proximal phalanges of the wearer's foot. Some examples may have a toe-lowering section that extends in a rearward direction to underlie at least the first metatarsal head. Some examples may have a depression that extends to a forward edge of a forefoot region. Some examples may have a heel region configured to underly the heel of the wearer's foot, the heel region having a medial post. In some examples, the medial post may be between 1° and 8°. In some examples, the medial post is between 3° and 6°. In some examples, the medial post is approximately 4.5°. In some examples, the toe-lowering section includes a depression. In some examples, the depression is disposed on a bottom surface of the body, the bottom surface facing away from the wearer's foot. In some examples, the toe-lowering section has an area of greater compressibility than areas of the forefoot region adjacent to the tow-lowering section. In some examples, the body is made of a foam having a shore OO hardness between 40 and 60. In some examples, the foam has a shore OO hardness of approximately 47. In some examples, the foam has a cushioning energy of between 50 and 200 N-mm. In some examples, the foam has a cushioning energy of approximately 80 N-mm.

Some example foot supports, according to some example embodiments of the present invention, may have a body having a substantially planar forefoot region configured to underly the metatarsal heads and proximal phalanges of a wearer's foot, the forefoot region having a first thickness. Some examples have a substantially planar depression region disposed in the forefoot region. In some examples, the depression region spans less than the width of the forefoot region and underlies at least one proximal phalange of the wearer's foot. In some examples, the depression region has a second thickness, the second thickness being less than the first thickness.

Some example foot supports, according to some example embodiments of the present invention, may have a body having a forefoot region that underlies the metatarsal heads and proximal phalanges of a wearer's foot. Some examples have a depression in the forefoot region underlying at least one of the first metatarsal head and the first proximal phalange. Some examples have a heel region that underlies the heel of the wearer's foot and has a medial post.

Some example foot supports, according to some example embodiments of the present invention, may have a forefoot region that supports at least one proximal phalange of a wearer's foot at a higher position than the first proximal phalange of a wearer's foot when weight is applied to the wearer's foot, and a heel region having a medial post.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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